Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Goodwill collecting furniture for fire victims

Owners of homes that were lost or damaged in the Waldo Canyon Fire are moving on, and setting up new residences across the city.

But their new digs are missing a lot of the basics — like living room furniture. Discover Goodwill of Southern and Western Colorado, which is providing free help to the victims, is hoping the community will once again step up, this time by donating couches, tables and chairs, end tables, dressers and lamps.

Hafer says the charity has a good amount of kitchen items and TVs. New mattresses are also offered to victims at a low cost. But living room furniture has been scarce. Last week, the charity had 18 displaced families looking for help, and no living room furniture.

“Furnishings have come to the top of people’s hit list,” Hafer notes.

Donations can be made at any Goodwill retail or donation center, as well at drop-off sites at Walmart and other retailers. Check discovergoodwill.org for locations and hours. Goodwill offers free pick-up for large items. Donors should specify if their items are for Waldo Canyon Fire victims.

Colorado Springs, CO, July 30, 2012 — Shortly after emergency officials began issuing evacuation notices to neighborhoods in harm’s way of the Waldo Canyon fire, Discover Goodwill of Southern and Western Colorado dedicated its local retail and donation centers to collect and distribute donated items to residents who fled their homes leaving personal and household belongings behind. A growing number of individuals and families displaced by the fire are utilizing Discover Goodwill-issued emergency vouchers to reclaim the items they once held dear.

To date, Discover Goodwill has issued over 1,400 vouchers benefitting nearly 1,800 people displaced by the fire with material goods valued in excess of $34,000. Requests for furniture and other household items continue to rise as fire evacuees begin to re-establish their residences. Donations of furniture, clothing and other household items are requested at all Discover Goodwill retail and donation centers to meet the ongoing needs of those impacted by the fire. Designated financial contributions can also be made online at DiscoverMyGoodwill.org, clicking on the “Make A Gift” button.

“On behalf of Discover Goodwill, I want to express a resounding ‘Thank You’ to those who have donated and continue to give with open hands and big hearts to assist others in their time of need,” said Discover Goodwill President and CEO Karla Grazier. “The incalculable value of these material donations can be summarized in the excited words of a three-year-old fire evacuee who recently visited one of our retail centers with her family and after spotting a Little Tyke play kitchen resembling the one she abandoned at home wrapped her arms around it and exclaimed, ‘Look mommy, it’s just like the one the fire took away!’ We may not be able to completely erase the memory of this tragic event for those displaced by the blaze, but we can certainly help them resume their lives in the aftermath.”

For a listing of Goodwill’s donation and retail centers assisting fire evacuees, visit DiscoverMyGoodwill.org. Anyone who has been displaced by the fire and is still in need of voucher assistance is encouraged to call 243-0511.